Vacuum cleaner



Feb. 18,1936. T,E D B LDE'E 2,031,454

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Dec. 15, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l --INVENTORS 4 J QMM W-m BY 1 ATTORNEY Feb. 18, I T E D B D r VACUUM CLEANER Filed m. 15, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 5 MM W 9 BY MATTORNEY Patented Feb. 18, 1936 PATENT OFFICE VACUUM CLEANER Tord Erik Daniel Bilde and, Anders Eriksson- Jons, Stockholm, Sweden, assignors to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application December 15, 1932, Serial No. 647,344 In Germany December 24, 1931 6 Claims.

Our invention relates to vacuum cleaners and particularly to vacuum cleaners of the enclosed dust bag type. One of the objects of our invention is to provide means for regenerating or cleaning a dust bag or other dust separating member by flow of air without removing it from the cleaner. A further object is to accomplish this without removing the accumulated dirt from the cleaner.

Further objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from the following description thereof considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which are to be considered as forming part of this specification and of which:

Fig. l is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top view of a portion of the cleaner shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is aview similar to Fig. 4, but with certain of the parts in a difierent relative position;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figs. 4 and 6, but with certain of the parts in still different relative positions; and

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, reference character 49 designates a base member which is supported by a caster or pivoted wheel 4| and two small wheels 42. Base member 40 carries a motor support 43 upon which is suitably mounted an electric motor 44. A centrifugal fan 45 is mounted on the armature shaft 46 of the motor. A wall 41 forms the bottom of the fan chamber which is provided with an outlet opening 48. The inlet to the fan chamber is through the circular opening 49 in the motor supp rt. member 43.

Suitably secured to member 43 is an upright cylindrical drum 50. The upper end of drum 50 is formed as a flange 5|. An annular member 52 provided with a packing 53 is adapted to seat on flange 5|. Member 52 is formed with a downturned flange 54 to which is suitably secured the open mouth of a bag shaped dust separating member 55. Openings 52a are formed in member 52, as may be seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Member 55 the bottom of the air-tight casing formed, in part, by the barrel 5!) and motor support 43 and then to be folded back upon itself so as to form an annular dust collecting chamber 56. A ring 51 placed atthe bottom of chamber 56 serves to hold the dust separating member in this position. The more central portion of member 55 is supported by a ring 58 secured to the top of' motor 44.

Annular member 52 is held in place on flange 5| by means of a cover member 59 which is held in place by suitable fastening clamps 60. Cover member 59, barre1 50, motor support 43 and the housing of motor 44 comprise an air-tight casing.

Cover member 59 comprises an outer annular part 59a and an inner circular plate 59b. An intermediate wall member 6| is resiliently. supported by plate 59b of cover member 59 by means of bolts 62 and springs 63. Intermediate wall 6| is provided with a downwardly extending conduit 64 and an opening 65. Opening 65 and conduit '64 are disposed on radii of plate 59b which are preferably at right angles to each other, as may be seen in Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 8. An annular extension 66 is carried by wall 6| and its outer periphery carries a packing member 61 which is adapted to seat against member 52 when the cover 59 is put in place. The extension 66 also carries a dust separating member 68 which may be made of cloth and which is provided with an opening somewhat offset from the middle through which extends conduit 64. Member 68 is suitably secured to member 64. It will thus be seen that intermediate wall 6|, extension 66 and dust separating member 68 form an intermediate chamber 6|a which has communication with the space above it through the opening 65. It will also be noted that dust separating members 55 and 68 together comprise a dust bag, the member 55 being the lower portion of the bag and the member 68 being the upper portion. I

.Plate 5% is-provided with a centrally disposed opening 69 in which is journalled a valve member 19. To the top of valve member I0 is secured an inlet connection II which is adapted to be connected to a hose leading to a suitable cleaning implement. A handle 12 is pivoted to a collar I3 which is secured to valve member 10 by means of a set screw or the like I4. Handle 12 is provided with a projection 15 which is adapted to engage recesses formed in plate 59b so that, when the handle is in a substantially horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1, the valve member can.- not be rotated. In order to move the valve member, handle 12 is pivoted to the position shown in Fig. 7, in which position projection 16 is withdrawn from the recess and the handle, collar and valvemay be rotated in a horizontal plane.

Valve member 18 preferably is formed as a single casting. The casting is formed with a passageway I6 which is in communication with inlet member 1| for all positions of the valve. The upper end of passage 16 is centrally disposed with relation to the axis of rotation of the valve while the lower end of the passage is displaced to one side of the axis. The arrangement is such that, with the valve in the position shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the lower end of passage 18 is in alignment with conduit 64 leading into the interior of the dust bag. The valve member is also provided with an upper flange 11 which preferably has a machined surface adapted to form a substantially air-tight seal with the plate 68b. Flange 11 has the configuration shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6, and 8. In the position shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5, flange 11 covers an opening 18 formed in cover member 58 directly above opening 65 in intermediate wall 8|. The valve is also formed with a lower flange 19 having a configuration as shown in Fig. 4. In the position of the valve now being considered, flange I8 does not cover opening 65 in the intermediate wall 6!, wherefore communication is established between intermediate chamber Ma and the space in the casing outside chamber Ma.

The upper and lower surfaces of valve III, including flanges l1 and 18, preferably are machined, as are the adjacent surfaces of plate 58a and wall 6 I. Springs 68 force wall 8| against the valve member, which is inturn forced against plate 59b, the machined surfaces providing a substantially air-tight flt between these members.

When the fan is rotated with the valve in the above described position, air is drawn in through inlet II, passage 16 and conduit 84 to the interior of the dust bag. The air passes through the upper portion 68 of the dust bag into intermediate chamber 8la and through opening 65 in wall 6| to the space within cover member 69. This air then passes through openings 52a. to the space within the casing outside of the lower portion of the dust bag. Air also passes through the lower portion 55 of the dust bag. The dust drawn in with the air is deposited for a greater part in the lower part of the dust ba Particularly in annular chamber 56'. A portion of the dust adheres to both the upper portion 68 and the upper part of the lower portion 55 of the dust bag. The air is withdrawn from the casing by fan 45 through opening 48 and is discharged from the fan through outlet opening 48.

When it is desired to clean the upper portion 68 of the dust bag, valve member 18 is rotated to the position shown in Figs. 6 and "I. In this position the lower end of passage 16 of the valve is in alignment with opening I in intermediate wall 8l and opening 18 in plate 68b is still closed by flange 11. Upon rotation of the fan, air is drawn in through inlet opening II, passage 18 and opening 65 into the intermediate chamber cm. This air is then drawn through the upper portion 88 of the dust separating member into the interior of the dust bag. It will be seen that this air passes through member 88 in a reverse direction and thus dislodges dirt which has adhered to the under surface of the member.

passes out of the dust bag through the upper part oflthe lower portion 66 thereof and is discharged by the fan through outlet 48. During Y above described operationthetleaning implement should be held in such a positionthat no -dust or dirt will be drawn in with the air inasmuch as any dirt so drawn in will be deposited on the upper side of dust separating member 88, which of course is undesirable. If desired, the hose may be disconnected from inlet member H sothatitisassuredthattheairdrawninis clean.

If it is inconvenient to draw clean air into the inlet H, the dust separating member 68 may be regenerated by rotating the valve member from the position shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5. The valve member will then be in the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The valve member is provided with an additional passageway 88. In the position of the valve now under discussion passageway 88 connects opening 18 in cover member 58 with opening 65 in intermediate wall II. In this position, the lower end of passage 16 is closed by wall 8|. When the fan is rotated, air is drawn in through opening 18, passage 88 and opening 65 to the intermediate chamber 610 and passes from there through the upper portion 68 of the dust bag into the interior of the bag, thus dislodging any dirt adhering thereto. This air passes out of the dust bag through the lower portion and is discharged-by the fan through opening 48.

In the position of the valve shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, passageway 80 is blanked off at the upper end by plate 58b, and at the lower end by intermediate wall 6I. In the position of the valve illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7, the lower end of passage 88 is in alignment with conduit 64 but the upper end of the passage is blanked off by cover member 58. In both of these last two positions the passage 88 performs no function.

It will thus be seen that, in the embodiment of our invention herein described we have provided means for cleaning or regenerating a dust separating member by causing air to pass therethrough in a reverse direction with respect to the normal operating direction. In order to accomplish this cleaning or regenerating, it is only necessary to shift a valve member and it is not necessary to dismantle the cleaner or to alter any hose connections thereto. Of course, when the bag become sufllciently filled with dust it is necessary to empty it, which may be done by removing cover 58 by unfastening members 60, whereupon the cover member may be lifted off the barrel 58. Inasmuch as dust separating member 88 is carried by the cover member 59 it will be removed with it. Ring 62 will then be lifted from flange 5i and the lower portion of the dust bag withdrawn from the barrel and emptied;-

While we have shown and described a more or less specific embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that modifications thereof fall within its scope, which is to be limited only by the appended claims considered in the light of the prior art.

What we claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, an air-tight casing, a dust bag within said casing having a lower wall portion of pervious material and an upper wall portion of pervious material, walls forming a chamber bounded in part by said upper portion, said casing formed with an inlet, means for passing air through said casing, and valve means for selectively connecting said inlet with the interior of said dust bag so that the air will pass out through the pervious upper and lower wall portions in parallel and for connecting said inlet with the interior of said chamber so that the air will pass into said dust bag through said upper wall portion and out of said bag through said lower wall portion. i

2. The combination with a vacuum cleaner having an air-tight casing provided with an inlet connection, means for producing flow of air through said casing, and a bag shaped dust separating member therein, of means for cleaning a portion of said member comprising a wall forming with said portion a chamber within said casing,v

said wall formed with an opening, a conduit communicataing with the interior of said bag shaped member, and a movable valve member having a,

plurality of operative positions and so formed that in one of said positions communication is established between said inlet connection and said conduit and said opening is open, and in another of said positions communication is. established between said inlet connection and said opening and said conduit is closed.

3. The combination with a vacuum cleaner having an air-tight casing provided with an inlet connection, means for producing flow of air through said casing and a bag shaped dust separating member therein, of means for cleaning a portion of said member comprising a wall forming with said portion a chamber within said casing, said wall formed with an opening, aconduit communicating with the interior of said bag shaped member, said casing being formed with an opening to the atmosphere, and a movable valve member having a plurality of operative positions and so formed that in one of said positions communication isestablished between said inlet connection and said conduit, the opening in said wall is open and the openingin said casing is closed, and in another of said positions said openings are in communication with each other,

and said conduit is closed.

4. The combination with a vacuum cleaner having an air-tight casing provided with an inlet connection, means for producing flow of air through said casing and a bag shaped dust separating member therein, of means for cleaning a portion of said member comprising a wall forming with said portion a chamber within said casing, said wall formed with an opening, a conduit communicating with the interior of said bag shaped member, said casing being formed with an opening to the atmosphere, and a movable valve member having a plurality of operative positions and so formed that in one of said positions communication is established between said inlet connection and said conduit, the opening in said wall is open and the opening in said casing is closed, in a second position communication is established between said inlet connection and the opening in said wall and said conduit is closed, and in a third position said openings are in communication with each other, and said conduit is closed.

5. The combination with a vacuum cleaner having an air -tight casing provided with an inlet connection, means for producing fiow of air through said casing, and a bag shaped dust separating member therein, of means for cleaning a portion of said member comprising a wall forming with said portion a chamber within said casing, said wall formed with an opening, a conduit communicating with the interior of said bag shaped member, said casing being formed with an opening to the atmosphere, and a movable valve member formed with first and second passageways therethrough and with upper and lower flanges, said valve member having three operative positions and so arranged that in the first position said first passageway establishes communication between said inlet connection and said conduit, said opening in said wall is open and said upper flange closes'the opening in said casing, in the second position said first passage establishes communication between said inlet connection and the opening in said wall, said upper flange closes the opening in said casing and said conduit is in communication with the second passage which leads to and is closed by the casing wall, and in the third position said second passageway establishes communication between the opening in said casing and the opening in said wall,'said conduit is closed by said lower flange and said first passageway is blanked off against said wall.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, anair-tight casing, a dust bag within said casing having a first wall portion of pervious material and a second wall portion of pervious material, walls forming a chamber bounded in part by said second portion, said casing formed with an inlet, means for passing air through said casing, and valve means for selectively connecting said inlet with the interior of said dust bag so that the air will pass out through the pervious first and second wall portions in parallel and for connecting said inlet with the interior of said chamber so that the air will pass into said dust bag through said second portion and out of said bag through said first portion.

TORD ERIK DANIEL BILDE.

ANDERS ERIKSSON-JONS. 

